Yarn conditioning process



Patented Apr. 9, 1940 Jersey YARN CONDITIONING PROCESS Joseph B. Dickey and James G. McNally, Rochester, N. Y., assignors to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New,

No Drawing. Application December 16, 1938,

Serial No. 246,207

I 14 Claims.

This invention relates to the treatment of cellulose organic derivative filaments, fibers, threads and the like and more particularly to a method of eliminating the tendency of such' materials to accumulate charges of static electricity in twisting, winding and spinning. The invention also relates particularly to the treatment of cellulose organic derivative cut staple fibers to adapt them for the manufacture of spun yarns.

As is well-known, cellulose organic derivative materials, particularly in filament, yarn, or sheet form, are particularly subject to the accumulation on their surfaces of charges of static electricity from frictional and other influences. In the case of filaments and yarns in which the surface area of the material (per unit of weight) is enormously greater as compared to sheets or films, the problem of static often assumes serious proportions. In the manufacture of yarns of various types from artificial filaments, numerous steps in which the yarn is subjected to frictional influences may be necessary, as for example, twisting, winding, warping, carding, combing, drawing, spinning and the like, all of which operations tend to produce large accumulations of static on the filaments. This is particularly aggravated in the utilization of cut staple, as for example, in the making of spun yarn, since in carding and combing considerable friction is developed and as a result sumcient charges accumulate on the fibers to make the formation of the web difficult, if

not impossible; furthermore, even if a web is formed with some degree of success, the subsequent drafting operation produces a very uneven spun yarn or intermediate roving due to the presence of the static charge. In addition, there i the ever-present fire hazard.

Cellulose derivative yarn,-particularly in the form of cut staple, is extremely difilcult to handie in the various operations involved in making spun yarn, not only because such material is.

composed of filaments having smooth, glass-like surfaces without natural kink or irregularity, but

also because it has relatively negligiblev moisture content at normal humidities, as compared to. natural fibers such as cotton andwool, making it inherently far more susceptible to. the accumulation of static. The charges accumulating on cellulose derivative cut staple fibers are, under some i fibers in the'various operations involved in the.

manufacture of spun yarns. A still further object is to provide a method of treating cellulose organic derivative yarns in either filament or cut staple form, wherein the material is simultaneously softened and lubricated and the accumulati n of static charges thereon is prevented. Anoth r .r ing invention which in its broader aspects comprises applying to cellulose organic derivative yarns either in the form of filaments, threads or staple fibers, an antistatic composition characterized by the presence therein of organic amine salts of furfuryloxy an'd tetrahydrofurfuryloxy aliphatwhere A is a substituent selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, substituted and unsubsti tuted alkylgroups, n is 1, 2, etc., and wis 1-, 2,

etc. The structure ofthese salts may be represented by the formulas:

HCCH. i i v A- -cH= -ocHi).-] co-H.B

and L a H2C---OHI where A, m, n have the meaning previously referred to, and B is a primary, secondary, tertiary or quaternary organic base, or ammonia.

The various amine salts of the above mentioned ,acids may be prepared by any of the known methods for preparing relating compounds. As a rule we prefer to treat the desired amine with a s'toichiometric amount of the acid or'incertain cases an excess of the acid or amine may be used.

In accordance with our, invention the above mentioned amine salts may be applied to the yarn in any convenient manner, for example, by

eral oil, blown and unblown, drying, and semi! roll, wick, immersion, spraying or the like. Inasmuch as these compounds are soluble in on they a may be dissolved or dispersed in oils such as mindrying, vegetable and animal oils, examples of which are light mineral, neats-foot, olive, teaseed, castor, soya bean, rapeseed oils, etc.

In the following examples and description, we have set forth several of the preferred embodi- Y ments of our invention, but they are included merely for purposes of illustration and not as a limitation thereof.

Example 1 Tetrahydrofurfuryloxy acetic acid sodium salt is applied to textile materials (silk, cotton, wool, viscose, cellulose acetate, etc.) by means of a bath, wick, roller, spray, etc.'to facilitate their knitting, weaving, spinning and the like. Yarns treated with the above type of agent are of special value in the preparation of cut staple fibers- These fibers may be oiled before or after cutting.

' Example 2 A conditioning liquid is madenp'as follows:

Parts Ditetrahydrofurfurylamine propionate 70 Furfuryloxyacetic acid oleyl amine salt 30 and applied to textile materials such as silk, wool, cellulose acetate, etc. as described in Example 1. 'If the yarn is intended primarily for knitting, the amount of conditioning liquid applied may vary from 4-25% by weight of the yarn, and ii for weaving between 1-5% by weight of the yarn.

Cellulose acetate filaments treated as described above are quite soft and pliable and give improved results in various textile operations such as weaving, knitting, etc., and especially in the production of cut staple fibers.

Conditioning liquids particularly useful for the treatment of various types of yarns in accordance with our invention particularly those composed of or containing cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose acetate butyrate, and similar organic acid esters, and especially adapted for the de -electrification or anti-static treatment 01 cellulose organic derivative cut staple yarns are as follows:

Example 3 Parts 5 methyltetrahydrofurfuryloxyacetic a c i d methylamine salt 1 Olive Glycerol acetone butyrate a 59 Example 4 Parts 5-w-hydroxymethylfurfuryloxyacetic acid diethylamine salt..{ 5 Blown olive oil Glycerol methyl ethyl ketone 35 Example-5 Parts ,B-tetrahydrofurfuryloxy propionic acid-tripropylamine salt 5 Neats-foot oil 95 Example 6 Parts Furfuryloxyacetic acid cyclohexylamine salt 2 Blown neats-foot 0il- 98 Example 7 I Parts Tetrahydrofurfuryloxyacetic acid dimethylcycloheiwlamine a r I 8 Water 1 Sperm oi 96 Example 8 7 Parts Tetrahydrofurfuryloxyacetic acid -piperidine sa 1-5 Blown sperm oil 99-95 5 Example 9 I Parts Furfuryloxyacetic. acid morpholine salt 2 I Mineral oil 90 m Diethylene glycol ditetrahydrofuroate 8 Example 10 Parts Tetrahydrofurfuryloxyacetic acid benzylamine salt 1-5 15 Blown teaseed oil 99-95 Example 11 .1 Parts Teaseed oil 25 0 Di-p-methoxyethyl succinate 70 Tetrahydrofuriuryloxyacetic acid piperazine S8 1t.. .,l 5

Example 12 Parts 25 Water Gelatin 5 Furfuryloxyacetic acid ethylene diamine salt: 10

Any of the above compositions may 'be appliedv to the yarn intended for use in circular knitting by means 01 a bath, wick, spray, roller, pad or any suitable means. The amount of conditioning liquid) applied may vary between 5-25% 'by weight of the yarn. Usually, however, the amount of conditioning liquid applied is about 10-15% by weight of the yarn. Yarn composed of cellulose acetate conditioned as described above gives excellent results when used in the circular knitting process.

As will be apparent from the above examples and description the conditioning agents of our inventionmay be applied by a wide variety of methods. For example, we may employ the agent as an ingredient of the spinning dope from which the filaments are formed, the amount of the agent so employed depending upon a number of factors, such as the particular cellulose derivative used inmaking the yarn, the solvent or solvent combination used, in making up the spinning solution, and the properties desiredin the finished yarn, etc.

If the conditioning agent is to be applied to the yarn after spinning; this may be done by bringing the yarn in contact with a wick, roll, or felt wet therewith, or the liquid may be applied by immersion, spray, or otherwise. The particular point at whichthe liquid is applied may'vary. It may, for example, be applied to the .yam inside or outside the spinning cabinet, be-- tween the guide and godet r011, between the godet or other roll or guide and the point of winding and/or twisting; In some cases, the liquid may even be applied to the yarn after winding onto cones, spools, bobbins, or the like or by the socalled bobbin tobobbin method. In the case The amount of the agent so employed will varywidely depending upon the results desired, the specific nature of the material to which the agent is applied, the use to which the yarn is eventually to be put and other factors. For example, in a given case where a cellulose organic acid ester yarn such as a yarn composed of cellulose acetate, is intended for knitting, about 4 to 25% or more by weight, based on the weight of the dry yarn, may be satisfactory, while if the yarn is intended for weaving, the amount may vary between about 1 and 5%.

Although in the above examples we have referred primarily to yarn treating compositions containing only the conditioning agent and-an oil, other ingredients such as solvents, non-solvents, emulsifying agents, blending agents and the like, may be added within the scope ofour invention. Likewise, various dyes or other coloring matter may be included in case it is desired to permanently or fugitiveiy tint or dye the material undergoing treatment.

Although we have found it convenient to illustrate our invention by reference to compositions containing specific percentages of the various ingredients, these percentages may vary widelydepending upon'the particular. purpose for which the composition is intended. For example, if it cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose acetate butyrate, ethylcellulose, methyl cellulose, benzyl The yarn conditioning agents of our invention also have exceptional value as surface active compounds and as such may be employed as wetting agents, emulsifying and dispersing agents, textile assistants, dye dispersing agents and the like.-

The yarn conditioning method and compositions of our invention possess many outstanding advantages. The fundamental and outstanding characteristic of the agents employed in accordance with the invention is their ability to deelectrify yarns, especially those composed of or containing organic derivatives of cellulose such as cellulose acetate and render them amenable to various textile operations, especially operations such, as those involved in the manufacture of cut staple fibers, as well as in weaving and knitting. Another outstanding characteristic of these compounds is their exceptional solvent power for a wide variety of mineral, animal, and" vegetable oils and their ability to act as lubricating assistants in conjunction with these oils when applied to such yarns. In addition, due to their solubility in water, they may be readily removed from yarns and fabrics by means of the usual aqueous scour-baths. By employing the yarn conditioning agents and method of our invention as herein described, one is enabled to obtain highly satisfactory results in the manufacture of yarns and woven fabrics and especially the production from these yarns of cut staple fibers and spun yarn.-

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. The method of eliminating the tendency of yarns, filaments or fibers to accumulate chargesof static electricity, which comprises applying thereto a composition containing as its essential anti-static component a salt selected from the group consisting of the amine salts of fur- .furyloxy and acids, said salts having the structural formula tetrahydrofurfuryloxy aliphatic where A ls'a substituent selected from the groupconsisting of alkyl groups and hydrogen; n and a: are small whole numbers at least '1; and B is a substituent selected from the groupconsisting of the primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary cellulose and others, as well as to the ,conditionbases and ammimiaing of silk, wool, cotton, viscose and other natural or artificial materials.

The term yam as used herein and in the claims is to be under-staid as-including a single filament, a plurality of filaments associated into the form of a. thread, either of high or low twist, single or multiple threads associated or twisted together, composite threads composed of a mixup a variety of yarn treating formulas of varying composition.

nary organic bases and ammonia.

2. The method of eliminating the tendency of yarns composed of or containing organicv derivatives of cellulose, filaments or fibers to accumulate charges of static electricity, which comprises applying thereto a composition containing as its essential antistatic component a salt selected from the group consisting of the amine salts of furfuryloxy and tetrahydrofurfuryloxy aliphatic acids, said salts having the structural formula H$}-(}H A-C c-onA-o-(omnt-oqoaa' where A is a substituent selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups and hydrogen; 1: and a: are small whole numbers at least 1; and B 'is a substituent selected from the group consisting of the primary, secondary, tertiary and quater- 3. The method of eliminating the tendency of yarns composed of or containing cellulose acetate, filaments, or fibers, to accumulate charges of static electricity, which comprises applying thereto a composition containing as its essential anti-static component a salt selected from the group consisting of the amine salts of furfuryloxy and tetrahydrofurfuryloxy aliphatic acids, said salts having the structural formula where A'is a substituent selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups and hydrogen; n and a: are small whole numbers at least 1; and B is a substituent selected from the group consisting of the. primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary organic bases and ammonia.

4. The method of eliminating the tendency of yarns composed of or containing cellulose acetate, filaments, or fibers, to accumulate charges of static electricity, which comprises applying thereto a composition containing as its essential anti-static component a salt-selected from the group consisting of the amine salts of furiuryloxy and tetrahydrofurfuryloxy aliphatic acids, said salts having the structural formula where A is a substituent selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups and hydrogen; n and a: are small whole numbers at least 1; and B is a substituent selected from the group consisting of the primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary organic bases and ammonia, and a textile lubricant.

5. The method of eliminating the tendency of yarns composed of or containing organic derivatives of cellulose, filaments or fibers to accumulate charges of static electricity, which comprises applying'thereto a composition containing as its essential anti-static component tetrahydrofurfuryl-oxy-acetic acid sodium salt.

6. The method of eliminating the tendency of yarns composed of or containing organic derivatives of cellulose, filaments or fibers to accumulate charges of static electricity, which comprises applying theareto a composition containing as its essential anti-static component tetrahydrofurfuryloxyacetic acid triethanol amine salt.

7. The method of eliminating the tendency of yarns composed of or containing organic derivatives of cellulose, filaments or fibers to accumunc--on A- (J-O'HaI-O-(GHzhh-COOHB where A is a substituent selected fromv the group consisting of alkyl groups and hydrogen; n and :c are small whole numbers at least 1; and B is a substituent selected from the group, consisting where A is a substituent selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups and hydrogen; n and a: are small whole numbers at least 1; and B is a substituent selected from the group consisting of the primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary organic bases and ammonia.

10. Textile yarns composed of or containing cellulose acetate having a lessened tendency to accumulate charges of static electricity, said yarns containing a salt selected from the group consisting of the amine salts of furfuryloxy and tetrahydrofurfuryloxy aliphatic acids, said salts having the structural formula where A is a substituent selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups and hydrogen; n and a: are small whole numbers at least 1; and B is a substituent selected from the group consisting of the primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary organic bases and ammonia.

11. Textile yarns composed of or containing cellulose acetate having a lessened tendency to accumulate charges of static electricity, said yarns containing a salt selected from the group consisting of the amine salts of furfuryloxy and tetrahydrofurfuryloxy aliphatic acids, said salts having the structural formula where A is/a substituent selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups and hydrogen; n and -a: are small whole numbers at least 1; and B is a substituent selected from the group consisting of the primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary organic bases and ammonia, and a textile lubricant.

12. Textile yarns composed of or containing organic derivatives of cellulose having a lessened tendency to accumulate charges of static electricity, said yarns containing tetrahydrofurfuryloxyacetic acid sodium salt.

13. Textile yarns composed of or containing organic derivatives of cellulose having a lessened tendency to accumulatecharges of static electricity, said yarns containing tetrahydrofurfuryloxyacetic acid triethanolamine salt.

14. Textile yarns composed of or containing organic derivatives of cellulose having a lessened tendency to accumulate charges of static electricity, said yarns containing tetrahydrofurfuryl oxyacetic acid dimethyl cyclohexylamine salt.

JOSEPH B. DICKEY. JAMES G. MCNALLY. 

